AN: Hello everyone! This day had finally come again.
Time for new updates.
Just a reminder, as I said last week, the next chapter will be about foundation building, so it might be a bit boring for some.
I tried my best to lessen it and move it as fast as possible without screwing up the pacing.
Then, with that done, enjoy reading!
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Non-Administrated World #97, Star Rail Universe…
Welt Yang removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. He honestly didn't know how he was supposed to react to Himeko's story. Dan Heng, Sirin, Hayate, and Reinforce Zwei looked just as confused.
All while Himeko calmly enjoyed her coffee, completely unbothered by March's ongoing lecture toward Noah and Caelus… or by the reactions from Welt and the others.
"There are many things I want to comment on," Welt said after a long, tired sigh. "But let's leave those aside for now."
He put his glasses back on and looked at Himeko.
"Let me ask the main issue. This Volde—ehh, Dark Lord… will he become a problem for us?"
His question gathered different reactions from everyone.
March stopped mid-lecture. Himeko looked up from her cup. Dan Heng narrowed his eyes. Sirin, Hayate, and Reinforce Zwei all tensed up. Even Noah and Caelus exchanged a look.
"How does this so-called Dark Lord connect to Dormammu?" Welt added without beating around the bush.
Himeko let out a sigh.
"Based on what we learned from Pandora… unfortunately, he is very much connected to Dormammu."
Her fingers traced the rim of her coffee cup as her expression turned serious.
"Pandora sought Noah out because this Dark Lord came into possession of a 'power from beyond this reality.'" Himeko looked up, meeting Welt's eyes before glancing at the rest of the group.
"And my dear great-grandson Noah also confirmed that it's Dormammu through the Force."
Noah's head snapped toward her. His disbelief was written all over his face. He clearly hadn't expected her to join the teasing as well.
"I see," Welt said, graciously choosing to skip over that part. "So what else did you talk about?"
Himeko's expression turned slightly tired. She glanced at Noah, who immediately looked away the moment he noticed her attention on him.
"Well…" Himeko said with a wry smile, "you may want to refill your cup before we continue. This might take a while."
—----------
Flashback Greengrass Estate…
"Alright, that's enough, children." Himeko clapped her hands once.
Caelus, Noah, and even March immediately sat upright like well-behaved children.
"We are currently guests in another household, yet the three of you are showing such poor manners." She rested her cheek against her hand and let out a playful, disappointed sigh. "I don't remember raising you to behave like that."
The three shuddered.
Himeko didn't raise her voice. She didn't release any pressure or frightening aura. She only scolded them in her usual tone.
And somehow, it was very effective.
"We're sorry," Noah, Caelus, and March said at the same time.
Then they turned to Damien and Elizabeth, bowing their heads properly.
"Especially to your family, Lord Greengrass, Lady Greengrass."
"Yes…?"
"Eh…?"
Damien and Elizabeth could only stare, confused by how quickly the scene had changed with a single sentence from Himeko.
Even Pandora and Cyrus wore the same stunned look as their parents.
"Mmmm, good," Himeko nodded in approval, smiling softly at the three.
Damien remained silent for a moment before letting out a small cough.
"That was really amazing Miss Himeko…" he let out an admiring sigh. "You managed to calm them down with one sentence."
Elizabeth nodded slowly. "Most parents would need far more than that."
Himeko blinked once, then let out a soft laugh behind her hand. "Ara, is that so?"
Across the table, March, Noah, and Caelus remained perfectly seated, backs straight like students during inspection.
Pandora and Cyrus looked between them and Himeko, admiration slowly growing on their faces.
"…Is Miss Himeko perhaps the strongest?" Cyrus whispered.
Himeko gave a wry smile and decided to rescue the conversation before it derailed again.
"Now then," she said, placing her hands together over the table. "Let's return to the main topic."
The atmosphere changed quickly. Himeko's expression stayed gentle, but her eyes sharpened.
"You mentioned that the Death Eaters are continuing to gather influence," she said, turning back to Damien. "How large is this… Dark Lord's organization?"
Damien's expression turned serious again.
"…Larger than most people realize," he admitted. "The ones acting openly are only a fraction of them."
Elizabeth's fingers tightened slightly around her teacup. "Some supporters hide behind noble titles and political positions. Others operate from deep within the Ministry. And then there are the fanatics willing to throw their lives away for him."
"So the masked idiots we fought earlier weren't the main force," Noah said.
Himeko glanced at him, but this time didn't stop him.
"No,"Damien nodded. "They were likely sent to spread fear, not accomplish any real military objective."
"…Basically magical terrorists." Caelus clicked his tongue.
"...That description is not entirely wrong." Damien said with helpless smile,
"So that's why their coordination during the attack was poor," Noah said. "It looked organized at first glance, but their combat structure had no real discipline."
That earned surprised looks from the Greengrasses.
"…You noticed that?" March blinked, sounding just as surprised as they were.
Noah gave a small nod. "Their movements relied too much on intimidation. Once someone fought back properly, they immediately lost their cohesion."
"I see," Caelus snorted. "No wonder they fell apart after just two attacks from us. They're basically a mob gathered around the same stupid cause."
"Which means," Himeko said thoughtfully, "their greatest weapon is fear itself."
Elizabeth lowered her eyes. "…And unfortunately, that fear is working."
Her expression turned grim as she continued.
"Families have started avoiding gatherings because they're afraid of being targeted. Some businesses mysteriously closed after refusing to support them." Her fingers tightened around the teacup. "There are even people who disappear overnight without explanation."
"And no one talks about it openly anymore," Pandora added bitterly. "Everyone just whispers and pretends not to notice."
Damien nodded, his expression darkening.
"The worst part is that some Ministry officials suddenly changed their stance without warning. Others…" his jaw tightened for a second, "…were found dead together with their families."
Silence settled over the room.
Even March couldn't summon her usual energy after hearing that.
Elizabeth lowered her gaze further. "Children are being taught not to say certain things outside their homes. Some parents don't even let them play outside after sunset anymore."
Cyrus added quietly, "And because nobody knows who is secretly supporting them… people have started suspecting each other too."
"That is the true danger," Damien said, his voice heavy. "Not just violence… but distrust."
Himeko's expression cooled.
"So they are trying to control society itself," she murmured.
"Yes," Damien answered. "Fear spreads faster than loyalty ever could."
"That is why I sought you out, Sir Noah," Pandora said. "The Dark Lord's forces are gaining momentum by turning our own fear against us."
She looked up and met Noah's eyes.
"The Peverell name still carries importance in our society. Enough to push back against the darkness trying to consume us."
she clasped her hands over her chest and closed her eyes.
"The influence and political power of the Peverell family can move people on the light side… and even those standing in the gray. With it, we may finally confront the problems our people keep ignoring."
Her voice became heavy.
"Our society keeps pretending everything is fine, even though all of us already know the truth. Magical Britain is rotten to the core."
After listening to Pandora, Noah let out a long, tired sigh.
"Haaa… seriously, what is with my luck lately? Did Hachi curse me or something? This is a hero's job, you know?" he muttered, looking slightly annoyed.
"I only wanted to fish out the enemies of the Express. Then I ended up with reality-bending paperweights, chased Dormammu across the multiverses, joined a war, became a 'god,' started an interstellar civilization, and now this… haaa."
Himeko smiled wryly at Noah's rant while Caelus patted his shoulder and March pulled him into a comforting hug. Across from them, Pandora, Cyrus, Damien, and Elizabeth looked visibly guilty.
"I miss the days when I only had to think about which world our crew would visit next," Noah muttered.
March's expression softened before she looked toward the Greengrasses.
"Sorry, but I just want to ask… why does it have to be Noah representing the Peverell family?" she asked carefully. "Didn't you say there are other Peverell descendants in this world?"
"Yeah… the Potters, right?" Caelus added. "And based on what we saw from the Potter guy in the alley, he seems reasonable and has a sense of justice. So March's question is fair. Why does it have to be Noah?"
"March? Caelus?" Noah looked at the two of them in surprise. He hadn't expected them to speak up for him like that.
Damien let out a tired breath before answering.
"Unfortunately, while the Potters are descendants of the Peverells, they cannot access the full inheritance of the family," he explained. "Only one-third of the Peverell family magic recognizes them. Not the entire family line."
Elizabeth nodded. "That is why the Potter family never declared themselves as the inheritors of the Peverell will. They were not fully recognized by the family magic."
"I see." Himeko let out a deep sigh. "That explains why Noah's answer to Director Ragnok impressed him so much when our Noah successfully unlocked the full inheritance of the Peverell family."
"Uggghhh… how troublesome," Noah muttered. "I shouldn't have answered like that if I knew things would get this complicated."
"There, there." March gently patted his head.
Noah looked away, a faint blush touching his cheeks. "…I'm not a child, you know, Miss March."
"Yes, yes. Our little Noah isn't a child," March replied, smiling softly. "He's just a tired, big child."
"Somehow that sounds worse…" Noah deadpanned.
"Ahahahaha! You said it yourself, no one can escape your granny's Grandmother Power," Caelus added.
March's cheek twitched as she glared at the grinning Caelus, she didn't say anything. Her eyes did all the talking.
Seeing the little 'family' recover, Himeko smiled at them warmly.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but… there is one more thing you need to know," Pandora said carefully.
Noah, Caelus, March, and Himeko all looked at her in confusion.
"Hmm? And what might that be?" Himeko asked.
Pandora took a breath before continuing. "It is not only the Peverell family inheritance that makes Sir Noah important in facing the Dark Lord."
That answer made everyone pay closer attention.
"In my visions, the Dark Lord obtained access to a power from beyond this world," Pandora said gravely. "I don't know how or when it happened, but that power is foreign. It is not like anything from this reality."
Noah's expression tightened. Even the Force stirred faintly at her words. Caelus, March, and Himeko noticed the change immediately and looked at him.
Noah met their eyes and gave a small nod.
'Bingo.'
Caelus, March, and Himeko's expressions turned grim, but their resolve hardened with it.
The chase against Dormammu had finally entered its next stage.
—----
The apartment of the Nameless fell into silence once more. Welt's grip tightened around his cane. Dan Heng crossed his arms, his expression sharpening with focus. Sirin and Hayate held Noah's hands, while Reinforce sat on his shoulder, leaning quietly against his cheek.
The mood had changed completely.
What began as an investigation into Dormammu's traces had now become tangled with a magical society standing on the edge of collapse.
"…So that's the situation," Himeko finished softly before taking another sip of her coffee.
No one answered right away.
March, who had been full of energy earlier, simply sat beside Caelus. Her head rested on his shoulder while his arm gently wrapped around hers.
"…This suddenly became another Pandora-RDA situation," Hayate muttered after a while. "But this time with magic."
Reinforce Zwei nodded. "A power from outside the world being used against it…" she said thoughtfully. "Except this time, someone from within the world invited it in… and is actively using it."
Dan Heng looked at the others. "If Dormammu is truly involved, then the Dark Lord may only be part of the problem."
"He might be being used by Dormammu," Welt added grimly.
That made everyone's expression harden.
Caelus leaned back against the couch and let out a long breath. "Haaa… So not only do we have a magical racist cult problem, but now Dormammu is trying to build a DLC boss through him."
March slowly turned toward him. "…Did you seriously just describe a Dark Lord as downloadable content?"
"I mean…" Caelus gestured vaguely. "Tell me I'm wrong."
"…You're not helping the mood," Sirin muttered.
"But he's not exactly wrong either," Noah sighed.
That somehow made it worse.
Himeko shook her head with a helpless smile before placing her cup down.
"Regardless," she said, bringing everyone back on track, "we now know three important things."
She raised a finger.
"First, Voldemort has already destabilized Magical Britain through fear and distrust."
A second finger followed.
"Second, he possesses, or is connected to, a power that does not belong to this world, which we can confirm to be Dormammu."
Then the third.
"And third…" Himeko's gaze turned to Noah. "…Our Noah is the key to resolving both problems."
Everyone slowly turned at Noah who leaned back against the sofa and stared at the ceiling for a moment.
"Seriously. How did my 'fishing' trip turn into political nonsense?" He rubbed his face, looking exhausted.
"Because the universe likes bullying you," March replied instantly.
Caelus snorted beside her. "Honestly? At this point, I'm starting to think the universe looks at you and goes, 'Ah yes, this guy looks responsible enough to fix everything.'"
"That sounds less like praise and more like harassment," Noah groans.
'Seriously, Universe. Hachi is the hero, not me. Why did this trouble come to me?' he added in his mind.
Welt adjusted his glasses before speaking again.
"So what's our next move?"
At that question, everyone's attention returned to Himeko and Noah.
"…Gringotts," Noah answered. "We're meeting the Potters."
"Yes." Himeko gave a small nod. "And the Greengrasses will accompany us as well."
A faint smirk touched her lips.
"Apparently, Damien had also contacted the Potters to request a meeting and introduce us. But his timing overlapped with the goblins' request, so the Potters decided to meet everyone together at Gringotts."
"So we're finally meeting the maybe-sort-of-technically-family Potters." March nodded sagely while pointing at Noah with dramatic seriousness.
Noah's cheek twitched. "…Why do you sound so excited?"
Caelus grinned. "Because, Heir Peverell. It's a family reunion."
"Ugghhhh… how dreadful… family reunions," Noah shuddered, remembering the Alden family reunions.
March immediately gasped. "Wait… does this mean we should bring gifts?!"
"Why?" Noah looked at her completely bewildered.
"We also can't forget the snacks!"
"Again why?!"
"And the most important one, a family photo!"
"Why is it getting worse?!"
Caelus nodded seriously. "Because Granny March had already arranged everyone by height in her head."
"I DID NOT—" March began, only to stop halfway. "…Okay, maybe a little."
Noah groaned while Sirin buried her face against his shoulder and Hayate covered her mouth, both clearly trying not to laugh.
Even Dan Heng looked away for a second, suspiciously silent.
"Why did this chase become so troublesome?" Noah muttered.
"And yet here we are," Himeko said with a warm smile as she rose from her seat.
"Well then, we will finish preparing, everyone. We will leave for Gringotts soon."
And with Himeko's words their next step toward the heart of Magical Britain began.
—-------
Marvel World, Chronicle Universe…
At the forward base in New York, a chime rang from one of the terminals.
Fate, who had been reading a report, looked up and checked the screen. A message had arrived from Noah, Sirin, and Hayate.
Her brows met as she continued to read the message.
"Fii? Did something happen? You look serious."
Lumine stepped out from the kitchen, carrying a tray of snacks and tea. The lightness in her expression faded the moment she saw Fate's face.
Fate looked up from the terminal.
"…Noah and the others found Dormammu's trace."
The playful atmosphere around the small forward base vanished instantly.
"…Where?" Lumine carefully placed the tray on the table.
"In the hidden magical world of our alternate world," Fate answered, her eyes narrowing slightly as she reread the message. "And the situation there might be worse than we thought."
Lumine walked closer and read the message. "...It seems that the situation there is bigger than we thought."
Before Fate could answer, another voice joined in.
"Situation? What Situation?"
Nanoha stepped into the room while drying her hair with a towel. Shamal followed behind her with Amy, while Signum and Vita were not far behind.
Fate handed the terminal to them.
"The Dark Lord that Noah and the rest investigating apparently obtained a power connected to Dormammu." she explained
That made them perk up and quickly skim the message.
"…That's bad," Nanoha muttered immediately.
"Very," Vita agreed.
Shamal's expression grew more serious the longer she read it.
"…A magical society already destabilized from within," she murmured. "And now an outside force is amplifying it."
Signum closed her eyes briefly in thought. "Extremist forces trying to rule through fear and ambition…" she said softly. "Of course it won't be easy."
Nanoha's worry heightens. "…And Noah?"
"He ended up becoming the key figure in that world's political situation." Lumine let out a small sigh.
That earned immediate reactions.
"…Again?" Vita deadpanned.
Amy covered her face. "…How does he even keep doing this?"
"Skill issue," another voice casually commented.
Everyone turned and saw Chrono Harlow leaning against the doorway with a canned drink in hand. Yuuno Scrya was beside him, while Zafira stood close behind.
Chrono snorted. "That idiot attracts world-ending nonsense like a magnet."
"Please don't say that like it's normal," Lumine sighed.
"Sorry, Lumine, but after last time? Even I can say it is normal for him now," Yuuno added with a wry smile.
Fate rubbed her forehead lightly before continuing.
"The situation in that world is becoming more unstable. Mr Welt believes Dormammu is using the Dark Lord as his local hand puppet."
Nanoha's expression hardened immediately.
"Is Dormammu trying to do the same thing he is doing in this world?" she concluded. "Using someone native to that reality as a doorway so he can consume it from within."
"I think so as well," Fate said with a nod.
Lumine lowered her eyes in thought, her hand tightening slightly as she processed everything they had heard.
"…So while we were preparing for the stone holder's invasion and looking for the other stone… Noah and the others were dealing with another world-level threat."
No one answered her, because they didn't need to. They understand the scale of the situation enough.
"Everyone, relax," Chrono said, breaking the tension. "Noah, Hayate, and Sirin will be fine. They found reliable partners in that universe."
He looked around the room before continuing.
"Partners who are also Nameless like you, and the alternates of Noah's grandparents. That alone is enough reason to trust their situation."
Then he smirked.
"Honestly, what they should worry about is Noah finally running out of patience. If that happens, Dormammu or that Dark Lord won't survive a single slash from the sun."
Another silence followed, but this one felt very different.
"…Nii-san," Fate said, her cheek twitching, "while what you said is technically correct… it somehow made us worry about something else entirely."
Chrono blinked once before letting out a dry laugh.
"What? I'm just being realistic."
"That's exactly the problem," Vita muttered, crossing her arms.
Yuuno shook his head with a helpless smile. "Noah has a habit of becoming… excessive when people he cares about are threatened."
"Especially when civilians are involved," Shamal added softly.
Fate let out a small sigh and pressed a hand to her forehead. "And according to the report… the Death Eaters tried to attack March directly."
The moment those words left her mouth, everyone's expression changed.
Chrono's smirk vanished.
"…Ah," he muttered.
Nanoha slowly covered her face. "Okay, that's really bad."
"Very bad," Lumine corrected immediately.
Even Zafira let out a low groan. "Then Noah's restraint is probably already hanging by a thread."
Amy glanced nervously at the terminal. "…Should we prepare emergency dimensional support? Maybe tell Team Reason or Team Slash/Dog to be ready, just in case?"
"...No," Lumine said after a moment of thought, shaking her head. "Not yet."
She looked toward the holographic screen showing the latest update from Noah's group.
"If Noah says they can handle it, then we trust them."
"…But?" Fate asked softly.
Lumine smiled wryly.
"…But we should probably pray for the Dark Lord's remaining life expectancy."
That finally broke the tension in the room.
Even Nanoha laughed softly while Vita snorted.
"See? Just as I told you," Chrono muttered, taking another drink from his can. "Between Noah, Hayate, Sirin, and the alternate grandparents…"
He shook his head.
"…We should feel sorry for Dormammu and that Dark Lord. They won't survive. That much I'm sure."
Warmth returned to the base.
But somewhere in another universe, the hunt against the devourer of realities continued.
And somewhere in Magical Britain, a Dark Lord unknowingly stood directly in the path of the Nameless.
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